Featured Source for February 2025: Peter Connolly

Peter Connolly (1935-2012) was a renowned scholar of the ancient world, particularly military history. He was a regular contributor to history periodicals and often appeared on television as an expert on ancient armies and their equipment. His meticulously researched illustrations rendered in precise detail are available for editorial use through akg-images.

Enjoy this curated selection of Peter's works. You can see more of the Peter Connolly collection on the akg-images website.

Roman

Titus’ triumphal procession through Rome after the capture and plunder of Jersusalem, 70 AD, with the loot. AKG301942 © akg-images

“The Forum Romanum and Capitol”. (Reconstruction of the Capitol with the Temple of Jupiter and the Forum Romanum at the end of the 2nd century BC). AKG306641 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

“Hippica gymnasia” (tournament of the Roman cavalry in richly adorned armour, armed with mock spears. Watercolour, undated, by Peter Connolly. AKG297808 © akg-images / Peter ConnollyReconstruction of the fort and village Housesteads C3 AD, with the headquarters (principias), the commander’s house (praetorium), hospital (or workshop) in the centre. AKG301903 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

Warrior on the Palatine Hill (time of the legendary founding of Rome under Romulus, c. 750 BC). Watercolour by Peter Connolly. AKG363449 © akg-images / Peter ConnollyHadrian’s Wall (Great Britain), erected under Emperor Hadrian 122–26 AD between Solaway Firth and the Tyne estuary. Reconstruction: Milecastle 37 west of Housesteads (right), turret (height c. 10m). Ground plan of a milecastle (left), remains of Hadrian’s Wall and a section through Hadrian’s Wall. AKG301811 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

Evolution of the Roman helmets from the 1st cent. BC to the 1st cent. AD. AKG333066 © akg-images / Peter ConnollyRoman Empire / Battle over the Milvian Bridge, 28 October 312 (Caesar Constantin the Great defeats Emperor Maxentius). AKG309255 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

Gladiator fight in the amphitheatre of Pompeii between a “Secutor” and a “Retiarius”, who has been injured and has lost his net (foreground). AKG297680 © akg-images / Peter ConnollyStreet scene in Pompeii during the first minutes of the eruption as pumice begins to fall down. AKG297560 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

Greek

Nestor’s Palace (c. 1300 BC, destroyed by fire c. 1200 BC). AKG299484 © akg-images / Peter Connolly(Top) evolution of the swords: (fr. l. to r.) bronze, late Mycenaean, c. 1200 BC; iron, c. 820 BC; iron, c. 500 BC. (bottom) Macedonian weapons: sword (kopis) with bird-shaped handle; spear heads. AKG333081 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

“Speira”, consisting of 256 soldiers, basic unit of the Macedonian phalanx (360–140 BC). AKG298990 © akg-images / Peter ConnollyReconstructions: general view of the Acropolis in the 5th century BC with the Temple of Athena Polias (left) and the Parthenon (Temple of Athena build c. 447–422 BC). AKG351828 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

Olynthus (Chalkidike, Greece), ancient settlement of Olynth (city founded in the 5th century BC, destroyed in 348 BC; excavations from 1928). - Reconstruction of a residential building (4th century BC), so-called Villa of Happiness: Andron (dining room). AKG4101712 © akg-imagesSea Battle of Salamis, September 480 BC. (The Greeks under Themistocles defeat the Persian fleet under Xerxes). AKG307088 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

Athens (Greece), Acropolis. Reconstruction: Propylaea (section) and interior view of the Pinakotheke. Crane, reconstruction, after a description by the Roman engineer Vitruvius, how it was probably used also in C5 BC. AKG302124 © akg-images / Peter ConnollyTable showing Greek helmets from 8th to 5th C. BC with the Kegel-Illyrian group (left) and the Corinthian-Chalcidian-Attic group (right); bottom left helmets with crests (after Greek vase paintings) and crest holders. AKG462160 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

Zeus hurling a lightning bolt against the chariot of Nestor and Diomedes; Odysseus is hit in his side by a spear. Watercolour, no date, by Peter Connolly. AKG382146 © akg-images / Peter ConnollyMacedonian Phalanx of Alexander the Great (late 4th century BC). AKG309259 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

Celtic

Early history; Celts. Gallic warriot on horseback (time of the Gallic War 58–51 BC). AKG373269 © akg-images / Peter ConnollyCelts in a longboat. AKG363210 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

Celtic cavalrymen from the 3rd century BC. AKG332662 © akg-images / Peter Connolly2nd Punic War, 218–201 BC. The Carthaginians under Hannibal mover over the Iberic peninsular, south France and the Apls towards Italy, 218 BC. Celts, living in the Alps, attack Hannibal’s army near the narrow pass in the upper Durance valley near Briancon. AKG298984 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

Celtic funeral. AKG321268 © akg-images / Peter ConnollyCeltic Insubres chieftain (middle) c. 200 BC; late-Celtic warrior with Roman-Celtic pectoral (left) (scuplture from Vachères, south France); Statuette with chain mail (right, bottom) and parts of a chain mail (reconstructions). AKG299454 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

Mythology and Literature

Achilles dragging Hector’s body around the walls of Troy. AKG433728 © akg-images / Peter ConnollyFirst Labour of Hercules: the invulnerable Nemean Lion is strangled by Hercules. AKG297225 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

Perseus and the Graeae (three daughters of Phorkys, grey-haired from birth and sharing one eye and one tooth, which they use in turn). AKG306447 © akg-images / Peter ConnollyAtlantis. AKG418073 © akg-images

The Trojans pull the Trojan Horse into their city, unaware of the fate that awaits them. Watercolour, undated, by Peter Connolly. AKG396842 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

The heroes of the Trojan War (Homer, Ilian): Fr. Left., Ajax, Nestor, Odysseus, Diomedes, Menelaus, Aeneas; foreground (triad), from left, Agamemnon, Achilles and Hector. AKG299463 © akg-imagesDaedalus and his son Icarus escape from Crete with wings constructed by Daedalus. AKG306561 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

The Northern wind Boreas gets hold of Odysseus’s ships at Cape Malea and cast adrift way beyond the Cyclades. Watercolour by Peter Connolly. AKG397984 © akg-images / Peter ConnollyThe blinding of the Cyclops by Odysseus and his men. AKG299458 © akg-images / Peter Connolly

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